Man Gropes Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Prompting Push for Tougher Sexual Harassment Laws

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, a mobile phone footage captures a man approaching Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum from behind and attempting to kiss her neck and placing his hands on her while she is busy speaking with supporters. Luckily, the staff member acted quickly, pulling the President. The man was in the custody of the authorities.

In a news conference via BBC, Sheinbaum said:

“My view is, if I don’t file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what will happen to all women in our country?

I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman, but that we as women experience in our country. I have experienced it before, when I wasn’t president, when I was a student.”

According to reports, the man allegedly harassed other women in the crowd. The incident fueled Sheinbaum’s push for tougher sexual harassment laws. The new harassment code prohibits indecent acts, unwanted touching, and any conduct that disrespects a person’s dignity or inflicts emotional harm. The incident renewed attention on Mexico’s alarming record regarding women’s safety, where sexual harassment remains widespread and advocacy groups continue to warn about the growing femicide crisis.

A recent survey revealed that more than 70% of Mexico’s 50.5 million women and girls aged 15 and older have faced some form of violence in their lifetime, according to data reported by Reuters based on findings from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). The alarming figure underscores the widespread nature of gender-based abuse across the country.

Meanwhile, United Nations–linked reports and Mexican government data indicate that an estimated ten women are killed every day in Mexico. The persistent rate of femicide continues to draw concern from human rights organizations, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protections and enforcement of laws to address violence against women.